AFCON Player of the Year nominee Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in Africa as Borussia Dortmund depart for Spain

2 years ago

Borussia Dortmund departed for their warm-weather training camp in Marbella on Wednesday, without star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has been given permission to attend an awards ceremony in Ghana.

In agreement with club management, the Gabon international has travelled to Accra, where he is on a three-man shortlist for the award of African Player of the Year 2017 – an award he won in 2015. He faces stiff competition for the prize from Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, although neither can hold a candle to his outstanding 28 league goals in the calendar year.

Watch:Aubameyang's first 95 goals for Dortmund

Dortmund will be in Marbella from 3–9 January and will play two friendly games against Bundesliga 2 leaders Fortuna Düsseldorf and Belgian cup winners SV Zulte Waregem.